Dr. J. Bruce Fuller

Local Artist Receives Wallace Stegner fellowship at Stanford

While not originally from Lafayette, J. Bruce Fuller, Ph.D. spent a total of eight years in the 337 area making a name for himself as a local writer. At an early age, he knew that he had a passion for writing stories about the things around him.

“If you want to write poems, write poems. If you want to make art, make art,” he said. “There’s no reason to worry about how it will be received, or how you’ll make money, or what people will think. The act itself is reward enough.”

After earning his Masters at McNeese and his doctorate at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he accepted a position at UL where he taught English and contemporary poetry. He confessed that, before accepting the Wallace Stegner fellowship at Stanford University, Lafayette and UL had started to feel like home.

And what does Fuller miss most about Cajun Country? The FOOD, of course! Some of his favorite dining locations include Social in Lafayette and Seafood Palace in Lake Charles.

Currently, Fuller is touring to promote his new book, The Dissenter’s Ground, which features Louisiana-inspired pieces including this one: